Police were called to the scene at about 2:45 p.m. Tuesday after a suspicious package was found at a multi-family home on Lincoln Avenue. After white powder was observed, the DEEP's hazmat unit was sent to the scene; the State Police and the FBI were alerted as well.

The precautions were necessary because it was feared that the powder may be the anthrax virus, which can be deadly. The vast majority of such investigations, however, usually turn out to involve a harmless substance.

"The sample were sent to the laboratory at the state Department of Health for testing," said Cyndy Chanaca, a spokeswoman for the DEEP. "The results will be available in three to four days."